Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-03-09
a BRlEFLY-ToLD BIOGRAPHY.

and then al journed.n
a BRlefLY-TOLD BIOGRAPHY.
Bcecher's Theological Views and Politf
cal Work-Triiils and Trlumphs.
Mir BeecLer was nearly "A years old, hav-
ing peen born at Lltchteld, Conn, June a
1915. His father, DIR. Lyman Beecher, pos
sesssd many strong points of character and
popular excellence as pulpit orator, public
lecturer and ecclesiastical teacher The tai.
ents Of the son were inherited from the
father. Changed conditions, wider oppor-
tunities, and more appreciatlye times con.
spIred in the development of the son beyond
the possibilities of the father. The demon
inatlonalsm of the elder Beecher was quite
pllable for the times in which he lived He
began life as a Presbyterian pastor. passed
into the Congregational church for sixteen
years, then became professor IN PreSby-
terrain seminary for twenty years, and pastor
of a Presbyterian church for ten wears In
le55 he was tried by the.presbytery to " hich
he belonged, convicted OF heretIcal teaching
ut the sentence was reversed on appeal to
the synod.
Henry Ward began life when his father
was a Presbyterian, consequently he was
Presbyterian, tco His theological training.
such as he had. was IN the Lane seminary, of
which his father was president When he
was "A years of age he became pastor of a
small Presbyterian church at Lawrenceburg
| Ind He remained there ten years, and
| seems 10 have created no remarkable reputa-
| ton He was later called TO INDIANAPOLIS
and while there developed those abilities that
demonstrated his fitness for a wider field
| OF action, ami il 1877 he was called to
take charge of the Plymouth church
III Brooklyn, and has renamed
there ever since. The greatness of
| his life and his lfe-work Is bound up
| with the Plymouth church during the last
| forty years He became noted at once as a
I pulpit orator, and The growth of the congre-
| CATION has been unparalleled IN the history of
| the country
| Soon after his settlement in BrCoklvn he
| began writing for Tne independent. and the
| Star papers were a feature for twenty
wears During the war period-IS6l She
| was editor of that Influential journal The
| Christian Union was started in 1870, and Mr.
| Beecher became its editor in connection with
| Professor Lyman Abbott The latter gen.
tIeman has been the actual editor. In add
| ton 10 his preaching to the Plymouth soci-
ETY. twice on each Sunday, Mr.. Beecher did
great deal of writing of a general charac-
| ter tor .ne public, and lectured extensively
/ throughout the county 4 number of his
| books have been published but except Nor
/ wood, which was intended to be a novel.
and the first volume of the Life Of Christ, y
none Of these was written specially for book
| publication. They consist of his sermons
| stenographically reported, his imprumptu
| addresses al prayer meetings an other places.
| The first volume of the Life of Christ was
| published in ISL OnIy short time ago he
| began on the second volume. AMI it was
| about two-thIrds complete at the tins of Lis
death.
The notable events in the famous clergy
| mans lite are not numerous For the most
| part he continued to holt pre-emlnent posi-
! ton among pulpit orators and public lee
turers by a constant and continued exercise
| of his powers. As a theologian he was more
! erratic than his father, and less regariful of
established orthodoxy. DR.. Lyman Beecher
| said that he preached Calvinism all his life,
| only that he never presented it butt-end
| foremost" Henry " ard not only cut loose
| from the striCter constructions of Calvinsm
| as held by the Presbyterians, but also from
| the more liberal Interpretations of the ortho.
| dox Congregational churches, owing to a
| disavowInent Of the doctrine of eternal pun.
| lshment
| The great event of his life was his second
| visit to England in 1861. Almost against his
| will be was compelled to address the people
| on the issues Of the American civil war then
| raging Always an ardent Abolitionist and
| Republican, he used bis voice and talents tG
! the best advantage In five lectures dellv.
| cred in different parts Of the island, he ad.
dressed more than 100000 persons. and SC
| eifectually carried his audiences with hin
| that the public sentiment of the masses q
the English enlisted with the north il
| the struggle At the time Mr. Beecher wa
talking to the people at Exeter, Manchester
| and elsewhere Tturiow Weed Was talking Il
| the conrt To thasa two man more than I,
any other one thing is due the change il
| sympathy which swept over England in tn
latter part Of 1871.
In 1871 occurred the great civil suit brough
by Theodore Tilton against Mr. Beecher /
was one Of the most remarkable trials on rec
ord, lasting six months MIR. Tilton brough
suit for $780, 900 damages. The ablest coun
| sci in the country was employed on botl
sides, and the most exhaustive and search
ing inquiry into the details OF the charg
was made. The papers of the countr
printed verbatim reports of the trial TO
over four months. In the end the jury faile
to agree, standing g for acquittal to 3 70
conviction. The case was never renewed.
Mr.. Beecher has been politician all of hi
public life, doing much with his pen an
voice to aid the Republican party, to whic
he was ardently attached. In 1889, how
ever, he repudiated the Republican stat
nominations and made two or three speeche
in favor of the Democratic nominee for gov
ernor Two years later, when that sam
governor was a candidate for the presidency
Mr. Beecher continued his support.
As an instance OF Mr.. Beecher's. love Q
humor Gsn McLeer tells the following: MI
Beecher was always fond of a good joke AM
was himself practical joker and humoris'
Here is letter received from him while
was postmaster after | had notified hir
that dead letter" of his was held in til
office:
Your notice that letter of mine we
dead and Subject to my order, is before mi
We must all die; and though the prematur
decease of my poor letter should excite
proper sympathy land hope it does, yet
am greatly sustained under the afflctior
What waE the date of its death| OF whs
did it die2 Had it in its last hours prope
attention and such consolation as 5efit til
melancholy occasion, Did it leave an
etfectsl VIII you kindly see to its funera
! am strongly inclined toward cremation.
"May ! ask whether any other letters
mine are simultaneously sick. II any d.
part this life don't notify me hereafter
Don't notify me till after the funeral"